WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH — Beachgoers attempting to access “premium lots” on Wrightsville this summer will be digging deeper into their wallets.
READ MORE: Pivot Parking recommends WB increase rates for premium lots, among other changes
At a special meeting Friday, the board of alderman voted 4-1 to increase charges for 514 spaces deemed premium — defined as close to the beach or near amenities such as bathrooms and showers.
Alderman Jeff DeGroote provided the sole dissenting vote. He commended Pivot for doing a great job but said he’d like to wait until next year to consider the price increases, since local businesses and constituents had reached out to him to express concerns.
“Every year our parking grows,” DeGroote said. “But, personally, I’ve got to do my job and represent a lot of businesses and that was the consensus by them.”
Rates in premium lots will be $6 an hour and $30 per day. Premium spaces will also be charged an hour longer than non-premium spots until 8 p.m. Parking fees for non-premium spaces will remain at the former rate of $5 per hour and $25 per day. Fees for non-premium spots will stop at 7 p.m.
The changes will go into effect March 1.
Pivot Parking CEO Scott Diggs recommended the change at a special meeting last Thursday. The company has served as the Town of Wrightsville Beach’s parking contractor since 2020.
Diggs told Port City Daily Pivot oversees a little under 2,000 parking spots at Wrightsville Beach, more than a quarter of which will become premium.
They include:
- North Wrightsville Beach Lot (Access 2): 27 spaces
- Ocean View Lot (Access 3): 28 spaces
- North Lumina Lot (Access 4): 91 spaces
- Moore’s Inlet Lot (Access 8): 56 spaces
- East Salisbury Street (Access 16): 103 spaces
- West Salisbury Street (Access 16): 82 spaces
- Wynn Plaza: 18 spaces
- South Lumina Lot: (Access 36): 82 spaces
- Jack Parker: (Access 44): 27 spaces
The board also approved raises for Pivot’s hourly positions, which start at $13.75, from a minimum of $1 per hour to $2.5 per hour, a $90,000 request for a new primary parking enforcement vehicle and improvements to Pivot’s license plate recognition technology, and a new method of using stickers to integrate golf carts into the company’s parking system.
Tips or comments? Email journalist Peter Castagno at peter@localdailymedia.com.
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